Waikato River
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Freshwater Fishing
Forum Name: Freshwater Fission
Forum Description: The place to discuss all matters related to freshwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29249
Printed Date: 02 Aug 2026 at 5:07pm
Topic: Waikato River
Posted By: Kenshin
Subject: Waikato River
Date Posted: 12 May 2008 at 10:03am
Had an great time fishing in the Waikato Friday and over the weekend while on a road trip with the in-laws down to Hamilton. Landed a couple of decent sized rainbows in really greate condition. Friday afternoon was raining all day but decided to venture out and dont mind getting drenched.. and it paid off. The pic was a bit blurry as I my hands was already shivering in the cold and this was the biggest one I caught. I think its about 3lbs and really fat! Went out the next morning to different part of the river where is all muddy and sandy on the edges. Weather was fine with only a bit of drizzle every couple of minutes. Got 3 small rainbows and all had to be released. As I about to call it off around 9ish and decided on a one last cast against the current over a deep pool, I got a strike and to my suprise.. it a brownie!! Pic below was taken in a hurry just right after I got it off the water so I can release it asap, but I washed out all the sand before I released it.  I reckon its just above 30cm, and I got too say Browns too fight hard as it jumped out of the water 3x!! Cant wait to get a chance to go down there again. ------------- Be patient and calm – for no one can catch fish in anger. –Herbert Hoover |
Replies:
Posted By: Pole Dancer
Date Posted: 12 May 2008 at 10:05am
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Nice work Kenshin!!!! ------------- http://www.clarkreid.co.nz" rel="nofollow - www.clarkreid.co.nz FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier 
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Posted By: Rusky
Date Posted: 12 May 2008 at 12:10pm
Awesome Kenshin. Im still a brown virgin! 
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Posted By: HareNcopA
Date Posted: 12 May 2008 at 12:37pm
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nice one!! there are plenty of decent brownies floating around in the middle of town, have seen a few caught from beside the Grantham Street boat ramp.
Were you spinning or fly fishing? ------------- Behind every good fisherman is a lonely woman |
Posted By: Kenshin
Date Posted: 12 May 2008 at 1:10pm
Dude, time for u to get devirginized!!  I can take you down to Waikato.. ------------- Be patient and calm – for no one can catch fish in anger. –Herbert Hoover |
Rusky wrote:Posted By: Kenshin
Date Posted: 12 May 2008 at 1:20pm
I was spinning, and yep caught that brownie just a couple of meters downstream from the boat ramp, and I had a wet fly(streamer) about half a meter above the traffic light toby lure. I was using a smelt pattern ( I think it was called a 'white ghost' or somethin ), Had 2 rainbows and that brownie strike the fly. I noticed you had to do a lot of jerky motion on the tackle or stop/break pauses on the reel in order to get the fish to strike, otherwise If you just do a constant spin, the fish seem to follow the lure/fly. I couldnt count hown many trout just follow the lure up to banks if I do so. ------------- Be patient and calm – for no one can catch fish in anger. –Herbert Hoover |
Posted By: bazza
Date Posted: 12 May 2008 at 6:50pm
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Congratulations Kenshin
I have never caught a fish in the lower half of the Waikato,
but also have not fished it either.
One reason for not having fished it was that so many people
have told me fish from there, taste rather muddy.
Your fish (rainbow) certainly apears to be in prime condition,
how did it taste?
Cheers
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Posted By: toasta
Date Posted: 12 May 2008 at 7:30pm
| Nice condition rainbow you got there Kenshin....Where in hamilton were you fishing? I use to fish the waikato loads when my ex use to live in Hamilton. The river was higher back then but i use to fish on the old gun boat (just down from the waipa delta boat) and got heaps of trout on bread drifted down on a float mainly 2-3 pound rainbows. But if you want to get better browns fish on the waipa delta wharf and use a running rig with worms. Cst out and down no further then the edge of the boat and let the sinker settle. A clearing river was always best. The best I got was a 7lb brownie (sea run). Good luck. |
Posted By: Kenshin
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 10:44am
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We had the 2 for dinner last night, and it was far better than the ones we get from Lake pupuke but never noticed the muddy taste (or I may really have to taste one that is muddy). Could they change during the summer when all the river is murky?
------------- Be patient and calm – for no one can catch fish in anger. –Herbert Hoover |
Posted By: mike555
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 9:13am
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Nice fish...
I might try drifting down in my zodiac, casting to the sides, that could be interesting, might take my shot gun as well.
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Posted By: Darryl
Date Posted: 14 May 2008 at 3:42pm
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Well done, maybe I'll pack my spin rod for a cast on the way in to work tomorrow morning!
The best fishing is usually around October/Nov/Dec before the river heats up too much and the fish are chasing whitebait.
At night the brownies feed on smelt in the shallows and a Rabbit fly on a floating line works a treat.
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